Evaporative condenser arrangement



Oct., 4, 1949. c. F. HENNEY EVAPORATIVE CONDENSER ARRANGEMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1945 Patented oct.- 4, 1949 EVAPORATIVE CONDENSER ARRANGEMENT Charles F. Henney, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to General Motors Corporation, Dayton, Ohio, a

corporation of Delaware Application .lune 25, 1945, Serial No. 601,493

'l Claims. (Cl. 62-117),

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularly to an improved evaporative condenser unit of a type suitable for use A further object of this invention is to provide an improved arrangement for removing the accumulation of dirt and dust from the water sump.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a compact evaporative condenser unit in which a small quantity of water may be used over and over again. l

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved arrangement for feeding water from a storage tank to the water sump.

Another object of this invention is to improve the overall eiciency of a refrigerating system.-

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, with parts broken away, showing the general arrangement of parts in the evaporative condenser unit;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view, with parts broken away;

Fig. 3 is a plan view, also with parts broken away, showing the arrangement of the blowers relative to the condenser; and

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view of a refrigeratlng system embodying a condenser of the type shown in the preceding gures.

The refrigerating system shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings comprises an evaporator I0, a condenser I4 and a sealed motor-compressor unit I2 for withdrawing vaporized refrigerant from the evaporator Il! and for discharging the compressed refrigerant into the condenser I4. The condensed refrigerant collects in the receiver IB `from whence the liquid refrigerant is supplied to the evaporator I2 through the refrigerant flow control device I8. The system shown herein is primarily intended for use in railway air conditioning but may be used to advantage vin other types of installations. The type of refrigerant ow control device used will largely be determined by the type of installation and the effect desired. Thus, it may be a thermostatic expansion valve, as shown, a xed restrictor or any other type of control. In order to simplify this disclosure, no additional controls have been shown although it is contemplated that additional controls responsive to the temperature of the air in the con-v ditioned space or the like would be provided for further controlling the operation of the motorcompressor unit I2 and the flow of refrigerant to the evaporator I0. The condenser I4 is an evaporative condenser in which a combination of air and water is used for cooling the condenser.

There are a number of problems present in the design of an evaporative condenser unit for use in railway air conditioning which are not present in the design of ordinary evaporative condenser units for stationary applications. In the first place the supply of water available on a railway car is very limited with the result that the water must be used with maximum emciency. Furthermore, the air available for cooling the condenser carries with it an abnormally large] amount of dust and debris which not only tends to coat the condenser with an insulating iilm but also tends to clog the spray nozzles and to otherwise interfere with the circulation of water over the condenser. By washing the incoming `air before it comes in contact with the condenser and by separating the dirty water from the main water supply, it is possible to maintain a constant supply of clean water and at the same time avoid the accumulation of dirt on the condenser surface. The novel arrangement of parts shown and described herein makes it possible to wash the air prior to its contact with the condenser without increasing the cost or size of the evaporative condenser unit. l By virtue of the arrangement shown the washing of the air is accomplished without wasting any water and without decreasing the efliciency of the unit. r

As shown in the drawings, the evaporative condenser unit ismounted within a sheet metal casing or cabinet 20 having an air inlet opening 22 yextending across the one end of the cabinet and having a pair of air outlet openings 24 and 26 provided in the side walls of the cabinet. The cabinet 20 may be supported beneath a railway car by means of the mounting elements 21 'which engage the brackets 29 carried by the car. Filter elements 28 are provided adjacent the air inlet opening 22 for removing the larger dust particles from the incoming air. A vertical wall 30 separates the cabinet 2Ilv into a fan compartment 32v and a spray compartment 34. A pair of fans 36 and 38 are provided within the fan compartment as shown and are adapted to be driven bythe Common motor 40 arranged between the fans.

'I'he fans 36 and 38 are conventional fans provided with .the-usual side inlets 42 and outlets 44. The outlets 44discharge the air into the lower portion of the spray compartment, as shown. A finned condenser |4 is arranged at an angle within the spray compartment and extends substantially across the central portion of the spray compartment in the manner best shown in Figs. 1

and 3. In this manner, the air flows upwardly through the condenser while water is sprayed downwardly over the top of the condenser by .means of a plurality of spray nozzles 48. A drain baille is provided beneath the condenser I4 and serves as the bottom wall of the'spray compartment 34. The water draining oil from the condenser |4 serves to wash the incoming air with the result that the water falling onto the bale 58 carries with it dustand other debris which is directed into the mud collecting compartment 52 formed at the bottom of the cabinet 20. The entire bottom of the cabinet 20 serves as a water sump or tank which is separated into the three tanks or compartments 5|, 52 and 54 by the transversely extending walls 56 and 58. The middle compartment 52 serves as a mud collecting tank for settling out the mud and other debris removed from the air. Water can flow from the mud tank 52 into the compartment 54 through the angularly disposed pipe 60 which is carried by the wall 56 and which has its inlet disposed rather high up in the mud tank and has its outlet at a level substantially corresponding to the desired water level within the main water tank. Water can ilow from the compartment 54 into the compartment 5| through the underpass passage 'lll formed by the inverted V-shaped element 1| arranged as shown within the tank 52.

A water pump 62 driven by a motor 64 is used for pumping water from the compartment 5| to the spray nozzles 48. The pump 82 is provided with an outlet line 66 which leads from the pump upwardly to the horizontal distributor pipe 68 which is arranged directly inside of the air outlet 26 so as .to be accessible for cleaning and replacement purposes merely by removing the air outlet grille 25. The inlet of the pump 62 is connected to the pipe 69 which projects into the tank compartment 5l and is provided with a strainer element 61. The passage allows the water to ow from the compartment 54 to the compartment 5| without mixing with the water in the water from the mud tank without draining out the main supply of water from the water tank since the only way that the water can get into the mud tank from the main water tank is through the pipe 60 which has its inlet at the upper level of the water in the tank 54. A drain plug Il is provided for draining the main tank 54. The arrangement of the air inlets, air outlets, and the condenser are such that the air leaving the upper side of the condenser is required to change its direction one or more times before reaching the air outlets 24 and. 26. The air outlets 24.and 26 are arranged-adjacent the ends of the condenser so that the air leaving the upper side of the condenser is required to iiow horizontally towards the sides of the cabinet 20 before reaching the outlets 24 and 26 and some of the air will actually flow downwardly past the ends of the condenser since the air outlet grilles 25 extend downwardly beyond the bottom of the condenser as best shown in Fig. 1. Side walls 80 and 82 are provided for directing the air leaving the condenser out through the outlets 24 and 26, respectively. By virtue of the above described change in the direction of ow of air, it is obvious that any water which may momentarily be entrained by the air leaving the condenser will impinge against the top wall of cabinet 20 whereupon the excessive entrained moisture will be removed from the air rather than being carried along with the air to the outside.

Make up water is supplied to the water tank from time to time from the water storage tanks mud tank. Thus, the water coming oi from the condenser I4 rst washes the incoming air and then falls onto the baiile 50 from whence it is directed into the mud tank 52, thence into the tank 54 via the pipe 60, and thence into the tank compartment 5| via the passage 10. A baille 12 (see Fig. 1) prevents water from splashinginto the lower portion. of the blower compartment 32.

The drain ,baille 58 is provided with an emergency drain opening 'I4 which would allow water to iiow directly from the lower portion of the spray compartment into the main water tank in the event that the pipe 60 would become clogged from failure to clean out the mud tank 52. The emergency drain opening 14 is at a low enough lever so as to prevent the water level from exceeding a level which might `cause water to flood back into the fans.

The channel 10 serves to partially separate the mud tank into two separate mud collecting compartments as best shown in Fig. 2. A pair of mud clean-out doors 16 are provided for cleaning out the compartments whenever necessary. The doors 18 may be opened so as to drain out the 84 which may be carried beneath the car or otherwise supported at a level slightly above the main water tank 54. In order to prevent the ow of water from the supply tank 84 when the supply of water in the tank 54 is adequate, a special water feed system has been provided which comprises a pipe connecting the bottom of the supply tank 84 with the bottom of the water tank 54. The pipe 90 is opened at all times so as toallow water to flow from the supply\tank 84 at all times when air is admitted to the tank 84 to replace the water which drains out. Air may be admitted to the tank 84 only through the air pipe 92.

which has its inlet 94 disposed at the desired water level within the water tank 54 so as to be closed by the water in the tank at all times when the supply of water in the tank 54 is adequate. When the water level in the tank 54 becomes too low, the lower end of the pipe 92 becomes uncovered so as to allow the flow of air into the tank 84 until the supply of water in the tank 54 becomes adequate.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims which follow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. In a railway air conditioning system, an-

for flowing air horizontally beneath said condenser and upwardly through said condenser whereby the spray water leaving said condenser serves to wash the air prior to its contact with said condenser, means for directing the spray water leaving said condenser into one of said compartments which serves as a dirt and debris settling tank, means for draining water from said settling tank into another of said compartments, said last named means comprising an angularly disposed conduit having its inlet below the water level of said settling tank and having its outlet at a level substantially corresponding to the normal Water level within said sump, and means for maintaining the liquid level in said sump substantially constant, said last named means including a water supply tank and means for controlling the flow of water from said supply tank to said sump in response to variations in liquid level in said sump.

2. In an air conditioning system, an evaporator, a, compressor, a condenser, refrigerant conducting means connecting said evaporator, condenser and compressor, means for controlling the ow of refrigerant from said condenser to said evaporator, a casing enclosing said condenser, said casing having an air inlet opening in one of its upright walls and an air outlet opening in another of its upright walls disposed substantially at right angles to said one wall, means for circulating air into and out of said casing through said openings, the lower portion of said casing forming a sump for containing a body of water,

means for dividing said sump into a debris and dirt settling compartment; and another compartment, means for pumping Water from said another compartment and for spraying the water over the upperside of said condenser, means for draining water from the upper portion of said settling compartment to said another compartment, said casing inlet and outlet openings being so arranged in the upright walls of said casing that air circulating through the casing flows upwardly over said condenser from said inlet opening to be washed by spray water leaving the con,

denser and is impinged against the casing top wall to remove excessive entrained moisture therefrom and thereafter flows horizontally toward said outlet opening, means for directing the spray water and water removed from the air after its passage over said condenser into said settling compartment of said sump, said means for draining water from said settling compartment to said another compartment comprising an angularly disposed conduit having its inlet near the Water level in said settling compartment and having its outlet at a level substantially corresponding to the normal Water level within said another compartment, and means for maintaining the liquid level in said sump substantially constant, said last named means including a water supply tank and means for controlling the flow of Water from said supply tank to said sump in response to variations in liquid level in said sump.

3. In an air conditioning system, an evaporator, a compressor, a, condenser, refrigerant conducting means connecting said evaporator, conder er and compressor, means for controlling the flow of refrigerant from said condenser to said evaporator, a relatively at wide casing adapted to be attached to the underside of a railway car, said casing having a partition therein dividing the upper portion thereof into a fan compartment and a spray compartment, said condenser being disposed substantially in a horizontal position intermediate the top and bottom of said spray compartment, said condenser having vertically disposed ns thereon forming a plurality of vertical A air ow passages therethrough, said spray compartment having an air inlet opening provided in said partition and an air outlet opening in the upper portion of a wall of said casing disposed substantially at right angles to said partition, means within said fan compartment for circulating air into and out of said spray compartment through said openings, the lower portion of said casing forming a sump containing a body of water, means for pumping water from said' sump and for spraying the water over the upperside of said condenser, said casing inlet and outlet openings being so arranged with respect to one another that air circulating through said spray compartment ows in one horizontal direction from said inlet opening beneath said condenser and upwardly thereover through the plurality of air flow passages provided by said fins thereon so as to be washed by spray water leaving said condenser and is impingedl against the casing top wall to remove excessive entrained moisture therefrom and thereafter iiows in a horizontal direction substantially at right angles to said one horizontal direction of i'ldw thereof toward said outlet opening for removing excessive entrained moisture therefrom, means for directing the spray water and water removed from the air after its passage over said condenser into the body of water in said sump, means for maintaining the level of water in said sump substantially constant, and said last namedvmeans including a water supply tank and means for controlling the ow of water from said tank to said sump in response to variations in liquid level in said sump.

4. In an air conditioning system, an evaporater` a compressor, a condenser, refrigerant conducting means connecting said evaporator, condenser and compressor, means for controlling the ow of refrigerant from said condenser to said evaporator, a substantially rectangular-shaped casing including a top, a bottom and upright side walls enclosing said condenser, said casing having an air inlet opening in one of its upright walls and an air outlet opening in another of its upright Walls disposed substantially at right angles to said one wall, means for circulating air into and out of said casing through said openings, the lower portion of said casing forming a sump containing a body of water, means for pumping water fromfsaid. sump and for spraying the water downwardly over said condenser, said casing inlet and outlet openings being so arranged with respect to one another that air circulating through said casing ows upwardly over said condenser from said inlet opening to be washed by spray water leaving the condenser and is impinged against said casing top wall to remove ex` cessive entrained moisture therefrom thence horizontally toward said outlet opening, and means for directing the spray water and water removed from the air after its passage over said condenser into the body of water in said sump.

5. In an air conditioning system, an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, refrigerant conducting means connecting said evaporator, condenser and compressor, means for controlling the ow of refrigerant from said condenser to said evaporator, a substantially rectangular-shaped casing including a top, a bottom and upright side walls enclosing said condenser, said casing having an air inlet opening in one of its upright walls and an air outlet opening in another of its upright walls disposed substantially at right angles to said one wall, means for circulating air into A and out of said casingthrough said openings, the lower portion of said casing forming a sump containing a body of water, means for dividing said sump into a debris and dirt settling compartment and another compartment, means for pumping water from said another compartment and for spraying the water over the upper side of said condenser, means for conveying water from the upper portion only of said settling compartment to said another compartment. said casing inlet and outlet openings being so arranged with respect to one another that air circulating through said casing flows upwardly over said condenser from said inlet opening to be washed by spray water leaving the condenser and is impinged against said casing top wall to remove excessive entrained moisture therefrom and flows thence horizontally toward said outlet opening, and means for directing the spray water and water removed from the air after its passage over said condenser into said settling compartment of said sump.

6. In an air conditioning system, an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, refrigerant conducting means connecting said evaporator, condenser and compressor, means for controlling the flow of refrigerant from said condenser to said evaporator, a substantially rectangular-shaped casing including a top, a bottom and upright side walls ladapted to be attached to the underside of a railway car, said casing having a partition therein difviding the upper portion thereof into a fan compartment and a spray compartment, said condenser being disposed within said spray compartment, said spray compartment having an air inlet opening provided in said partition and an air for pumping water from said sump and for spraying the water over said condenser, said air inlet and outlet openings being so arranged with respect to one another that air circulating through said spray compartment flows upwardly over said condenser from said inlet opening to be washed by spray water leaving the condenser and impinges against said casing top `wall to remove excessive entrained moisture therefrom and flows thence horizontally toward said outlet opening, and means for directing the spray water and water removed from the air after its passage over said condenser into the body of water in said sump.

7. In an air conditioning system, an evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, refrigerant conducting means connectlngsaid evaporator, condenser and compressor, means for controlling the ilow of refrigerantl from said-condenser to said evaporator, a substantially rectangular-shaped casing including a top, a bottom and upright side walls adapted to be attached to the underside oi a railway car, said casing having a partition' said fan compartment for circulating air therefrom into and out of said spray compartment through said openings, the lower portion of said casing forming a' sump for containing 'a body of water, means for pumping water from said sump and for spraying the water over the upper side of said condenser, said casing inlet and outlet openings being so arranged with respect to one another that air circulating through said spray compartment ows upwardly over said condenser from said inlet openings to be Washed by spray water leaving the condenser and is impinged against said casing top wall to remove excessive entrained moisture therefrom and flows thence horizontally in opposite directions toward .said outlet openings, and baille means for directing the spray lwater and water removed from the air after its passage over said condenser into the body of water in said sump.

CHARLES F. HENNEY.

REFERENCES CITED" The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Christensen Jan. 21, 1947 

